Valdez, AK vs Seward, AK: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Seward, AK has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% higher than Valdez, AK.

Valdez, AK · modeled 2BR rent: $1,520 / month
Seward, AK · modeled 2BR rent: $1,560 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Valdez, AK and Seward, AK using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Valdez, AK

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $378/month in Seward, AK

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $154,542 in Seward, AK

Regional cost estimates: Valdez, AK uses Anchorage, AK. Seward, AK uses Anchorage, AK. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 6.2%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$378

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$4.5K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Valdez, AK

Population:4K

Cost Index:

96.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$324K

Seward, AK

Population:3K

Cost Index:

102.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$372K

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Valdez, AK

The Last Frontier

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Alaska, this city has a population of 4K residents.

💡 Advantage: Alaska has no state income tax!

Seward, AK

The Last Frontier

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Alaska, this city has a population of 3K residents.

💡 Advantage: Alaska has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Valdez, AK vs Seward, AK

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Valdez, AK	Seward, AK	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,170/mo	$2,304/mo	↑ $134more	6.2%
Other	$1,461/mo	$1,551/mo	↑ $90.43more	6.2%
Transportation	$1,138/mo	$1,209/mo	↑ $70.47more	6.2%
Groceries	$1,191/mo	$1,228/mo	↑ $36.33more	3.0%
Healthcare	$800/mo	$824/mo	↑ $24.39more	3.0%
All Utilities	$740/mo	$762/mo	↑ $22.55more	3.0%

Housing

↑ 6.2%

Valdez, AK

$2,170

Seward, AK

$2,304

Difference

$134

Other

↑ 6.2%

Valdez, AK

$1,461

Seward, AK

$1,551

Difference

$90.43

Transportation

↑ 6.2%

Valdez, AK

$1,138

Seward, AK

$1,209

Difference

$70.47

Groceries

↑ 3.0%

Valdez, AK

$1,191

Seward, AK

$1,228

Difference

$36.33

Healthcare

↑ 3.0%

Valdez, AK

$800

Seward, AK

$824

Difference

$24.39

All Utilities

↑ 3.0%

Valdez, AK

$740

Seward, AK

$762

Difference

$22.55

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,050

To$1,180

↑ $130

1 Bed

From$1,390

To$1,190

↓ $200

2 Bed

From$1,520

To$1,560

↑ $40.00

3 Bed

From$2,110

To$2,170

↑ $60.00

Valdez, AKZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,390–$1,390/mo

Seward, AKZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Valdez, AK

$7,878

Monthly in Seward, AK

$378

Difference

Home Values

Valdez

Seward

$324K

Median Value

$372K

↑ +4.6%

YoY Change

↑ +11.4%

N/A

5-Year Change

↑ +36.3%

Homes in Seward are 15% more expensive than Valdez

Calculate payment - Valdez Calculate payment - Seward

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Valdez, AK

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Alaska State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Seward, AK

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Alaska State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Valdez, AK Tax Rates

Sales Tax:1.8%

Property Tax:0.9%

Seward, AK Tax Rates

Sales Tax:1.8%

Property Tax:0.9%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Valdez

Seward

24 Good

Air Quality

24 Good

81.1%

Good Air Days

81.1%

97 High

Climate Risk

97 High

🫨

Top Hazards

🫨

Before moving from Valdez, AK to Seward, AK

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Seward, AK for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Valdez, AK. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Valdez to Seward moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Seward, AK by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Valdez, AK vs Seward, AK

How do the cost estimates for Valdez, AK and Seward, AK compare?

Seward, AK has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% higher than Valdez, AK. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Valdez, AK, the model estimates $154,542 in Seward, AK. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Valdez, AK and Seward, AK?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,520/month in Valdez, AK and $1,560/month in Seward, AK. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.